Pass Plus Cymru, the increasingly popular post driving test course is aimed at 17-25 year-old drivers, especially those who have just passed their driving test.
The course consists of two parts:
- It starts with an interactive discussion session held on a weekday evening at a local fire station. An approved driving instructor and one of the local road safety officers lead, with clients encouraged to take part.
- The second part of Pass consists of eight hours driving tuition with an Approved Driving Instructor. The focus is on driving on roads and in situations that would not have been experienced prior to taking the driving test such as motorways, night driving, coping with busy towns and cities, how to tackle rural roads safely and looking for hazards.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service personnel who are normally first at the scene of serious crashes and will have seen many distressing incidents also provide valuable input. Course students are shown how the equipment inside the lockers of a fire appliance is used to release trapped drivers.
How much does the course cost?
The cost of this additional training would normally be about £170. However, the scheme is currently being subsidised by the Welsh Government and so Caerphilly county borough residents pay only £20.
Apart from the value of driving instruction on roads and situations that would not have been experienced before passing the driving test, a major attraction of the scheme is that successful completion may well mean a considerable reduction in insurance premiums – a very high cost for young drivers.
How can I take part?
During 2008, 84 young drivers from Caerphilly county borough completed the course. If you are aged between 17 and 25 and would like to book a place on a course, simply click on the following link:
Further information about Pass Plus Cymru can be found on the Pass Plus Cymru website.